Resilient press cover assembly



May 30, 1967 A, a. ANDERSON ET AL 3,321,852

RESILIENT PRESS COVER ASSEMBLY Filed sept. 19. 196e United States PatentO 3,321,852 RESllLliENT PRESS CVER ASSEMBLY Arvid B. Anderson, ParkRidge, Harvey L. Davis, Highland Park, and Roy M. Schultz, Chicago,Ill., assignors to Bishop Freeman Co., a corporation of illinois FiledSept. 19, 1966, Ser. No. 580,351 13 Ciaims. (Cl. Sti-66) This inventionrelates to resilient types of press covers and press cover assemblies,and particularly to those adapted to be used in opposing paired relationon dry cleaning presses, laundry presses and on presses used in garmentmanufacturing processes. The press covers of this invention are adapted`for use on the pressing members, sometimes known as the head and thebuck of such a press, and the press cover assembly of this invention isconstructed, where desired, to be generally symmetrical in that allregions of the pressing surfaces exhibit comparable resilience andsurface characteristics.

In the present disclosure, the pressing surface of each of the opposedpress covers is provided with a steam permeable, non-uniform coating ofa temperature resistant plastic such as polytetrauoroethylene, therebypresenting opposed surfaces which are of high lubricity, which surfacesfacilitate the pressing of opposite garment surfaces without impartingpattern and shine thereto. Furthermore, the press covers of thisinvention are substantially more heat and moisture resistant than priorart press covers, making possible the use of such press covers on theupper pressing member or head of a press. f

Special purpose press covers are known in the art, on example thereofbeing illustrated in Freeman Patent No. 2,814,135. Such covers have beendeveloped to avoid certain objectionable aspects of rigid press plates,such as metallic press plates. Covers of the type depicted in saidpatent exhibit a certain degree of resilience and compressibility,thereby to receive garment projections, such as buttons, zippers, seamsand the like, to permit a full surfaced pressing action. This inventionis directed toward improvements in the type of press covers described insaid patent.

The present invention provides a cushioned press cover for use on eachof the pressing members of a press. Together, the press covers for thepressing members, i.e., for the buck and the head, constitute a uniquepress cover assembly of improved properties and characteristics,providing a total pressing action characterized by uniformly cushionedlubric plastic surfaces acting in opposing relation. Each of the presscovers comprises a multi-layer assemblage, arranged to impart a soft,safe, shineless finish, with a minimum of pattern, to all types offabrics and garments, while substantially eliminating impressionsresulting from garment associated buttons, zippers, seams and the like.Each of the layers retains its individual properties, the layerscollectively providing a long lasting, wear and heat-resistantassemblage.

In the disclosed embodiment, the press cover for the upper pressingmember or head includes a perforate nonstretphable diffusor layer, suchas a metallic plate, which carries a plurality of further layers andwhich determines the actual contour of the press cover. The furtherlayers are of special purpose materials which individually andcollectively are steam-permeable and which collectively cushion andthermally insulate the contact or pressing surface of the press cover.To that end, the plurality of layers includes an inner layer of asbestosfabric, an intermediate layer of a compressible fibrous material and asurface layer. In the present embodiment, the intermediate layer isintegrally formed from the surface layer. The surface layer is Coatedwith a non-uniform steam permeable layer ot polytetrauoroethylene toprovide a pressing surface which is highly lubric whereby in use thepress cover will impart a minimum of shine to a garment pressed.

The press cover for the lower pressing member or buck is generallysymmetrical with that for the upper pressing member and to that endcomprises a multi-layer assemblage, the materials of which may be thesame except that the nonstretchable layer is preferably of a fabricrather `than of the metal previously referred to. That fabric is, isstated, relatively non-stretchable so that it will dene and maintain apredetermined shape for the multi-layer assemblage o-f which the presscover is made.

These and other advantages, characteristics and purposes of thisinvention will be apparent from the following description and drawingsof which:

FIGURE 1 illustrates a garment press to the pressing members of whichpress covers have been secured;

FIG. 2 is :a partial sectional view taken substantially :along the line2 2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional along the line 3-3 of FIG. l;

FIG. 4 is a bottom fragmentary view of FIG. 2 with certain portionsbroken away for convenience of illustration; and

FIG. 5 is a plane view of FIG. 3 with certain portions broken away forconvenience of illustration.

Referring now to the drawings, FIGURE 1 illustrates a typical press 1with which the press cover assembly of this invention is adapted to beused. The upper pressing member 10 is frequently referred to as the headand the lower pressing member 12 as the buck. The head and the buck arehingedly connected :along a hinge axis defined by hinge 14, about whichthe head is movable downwardly towards the buck, as by handle 16. Press1 is suitably supported at a desired elevation, as by table 18. Head 10includes a steam chest (not shown) to which steam is supplied, usuallyat 50 to 100 psi, from a suitable source such as a steam generator. Thelower surface of the head is generally provided with a plurality ofperforations (not shown) through which steam discharges downwardlytoward an object to be pressed as the head and buck are brought into ajuxtaposed pressing relationship.

The press cover assembly comprises press covers 22 and 24 for the headand the buck, respectively. As seen in FIG. 1, head cover 22 conforms tohead 10, covers its entire pressing surface and extends upwardly tosurround at least a portion of the peripheral edge of the head. Theupwardly extending Iflange 26 of cover 22 circumscribes and lies closelyparallel to the peripheral edge of the head. Head cover 22 is suitablyattached to the head as by coil springs 30 which are secured at theirends to ange 26 and which overlie head 10.

As seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, head cover 22 is multi-layered and includes arelatively non-stretchable, steam-permeable layer which, as shown inFIG. 2, is a perforate metallic plate 32 defining a plurality ofmulti-direction ally oriented, apertured, upwardly extending projections34. Plate 32 may be aluminum and may be constructed in accordance withU.S. Patent No. 2,880,529. Steam issuing through the perforations of thehead is directed in a plurality of directions as it enters the openingsof apertured projections 34 thereby tending to diffuse the steam emittedby the head over the entire press cover in a substantially uniformfashion.

Immediately adjacent plate 32 is an inner layer of a porous,heat-resistant material, such as asbestos cloth 35. The asbestos clothinner layer thermally insulates the remaining layers from thenon-stretchable head contacting plate 32 and is sufiiciently porous toallow the steam issuing rom the head to pass therethrough.

The next layer, the cushion layer 36, is also steamview takensubstantially permeable and comprises a compressible but resilient heatand steam-resistant material such as a napped nylon fiannel 3S which maybe integrally formed with the pressing surface layer 40 which in turn isstretchable and comprises a filament type of knit nylon fabric. Thenapped nylon is formed from the surface layer 4t) by a napping processthat draws out the filaments to form the flannel 3S. The nap iscompressible but highly resilient in press cover usage and is of asubstantially greater thickness than surface layer 40. The knit nylonsurface layer 40 is abrasion and heat-resistant, hence is long wearing.Since the knitted and napped portions, respectively, of the cushionlayer 36 are stretchable and resilient, the lcushion layer 36accommodates cover distorting forces resulting from the presence in agarment to be pressed, of buttons, zippers, seams and the like, therebyproviding `a full surfaced pressing action without significant markingof the garment pressed.

To enhance the wear resistance of cover 22 and to improve the quality ofthe press given to a garment, layer 40 is provided with a porous ornon-uniform layer of polytetrafiuoroethylene, as by spraying layer 40 toform, on the knit portions of the filaments defining the pressingsurface, a non-uniform porous polytetrafiuoroethylene coating which isrepresented by the dotted line 42 in FIG. 2 and by the enclosed spacedapart areas in FIG. 4.

The head cover 22 incorporates a peripheral flange 26 which receives theperipheral edge of the head 10. The marginal portions of the layers ofcover 22 which comprise flange 26 are suitably interconnected or securedto each other either by a high temperature adhesive (not shown), or bymechanical fasteners such as grommets, rivets or the like (not shown).

The buck cover 24 is generally symmetrical with head cover 22. Cover 24is of a multi-layer construction defining a major buck covering portionwhich overlies buck 12 and a marginal portion which embraces theperipheral edge of the buck. Securance of the marginal portion to thebuck to attach cover 24 to buck 12 may be accomplished by utilizing adraw string arrangement movable within a looped marginal portion ofcover 24 (not shown) in a manner similar to that illustrated in theaforementioned Freeman Patent No. 2,814,135.

As seen in FIGS. 3 and 5, the multi-layer construction of press cover 24includes a relatively non-stretchable steam-permeable liner such as aporous woven fabric 54. Woven fabric 54 is steam permeable so that itwill admit the steam to the buck. Adjacent to fabric layer 54 lies aporous heat-resistant material, such as asbestos cloth 52. Preferably,asbestos cloth 52 lies against the buck. A porous cushion layer 56(similar to cushion layer 36), including a surface layer 58 which may beof the same stretchable material as surface layer 40, is provided. Eachof the buck cover layers is secured at its marginal edge to form anintegral unit which may then be secured to the buck in the mannerdescribed above. The stretchability of layer 58 enhances the snugness ofthe fit of cover 24 over the buck.

Finally, to enhance the wear resistance of cover 24, and particularly toimprove the quality of the press given to an object to be pressed, layer58 is coated with a nonuniform porous layer of polytetrauoroethylene 60of the same steam-permeable characteristics as layer 42.

The press cover assembly of this invention then cornprises a pair ofpress covers, one for each of the pressing members, i.e., the head andthe buck. The covers are generally comparable in resilience and surfacecharacteristics to provide corresponding pressing action and each covercomprises a plurality of layers which contribute, individually andcollectively, to a desired high quality press to be given to a garment.The pressing layer of each of the covers is desirably provided with anon-uniform or porous layer of a heat resistant plastic such aspolytetrafluoroethylene to minimize shine and to enhance the quali ityof the press given to a garment by the press cover assembly.

The use of full surfaced uniform press covers provides a type of totalpressing action that achieves a superior finish on the completedgarment. The pressing action and actual surface finish are particularlycharacterized by the fact that the entire contacting surface iscomprised of uniformly cushion lubric plastic.

Although this invention has been described in part in terms of theembodiments illustrated, it will be apparent to those skilled in the artthat modifications may be made without departing from the spirit andscope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A heat and steam-resistant, steam-permeable press cover for apressing member of a steam press, comprising a non-stretchable layeradapted to lie adjacent a pressing member, a pressing surface layerhaving a steampermeable coating of polytetrafiuoroethylene, a resilientlocally compressible fibrous intermediate layer lying between saidnon-stretchable layer and said pressing surface layer, meansperipherally securing said layers together and to each other and meansconnected to said press cover for attaching said press cover to apressing member.

2. The press cover of claim l in which said non-stretchable layer is arigid steam diffusing plate.

3. The press cover of claim 1 in which said non-stretchable layer is awoven cloth layer.

4. A heat and steam-resistant, steam-permeable press cover for apressing member of a steam press, comprising a non-stretchable layeradapted to lie adjacent a pressing member, a pressing surface layerhaving a steampermeable coating of polytetrafluoroethylene, a resilientlocally compressible brous intermediate layer lying between saidnon-stretchable layer and said pressing surface layer, meansperipherally securing said layers together and means connected to saidpress cover for attaching said press cover to a pressing member, saidpressing surface layer and said resilient layer being integrally formed,said resilient intermediate layer comprising nap drawn from saidpressing surface layer.

5. The press cover of claim 4 in which a woven asbestos cloth layer isdisposed between said intermediate layer and said non-stretchable layer.

6. The press cover of claim 4 in which said pressing surface layer is astretchable knit fabric.

7. A press cover assembly comprising a steam-permeable buck cover and asteam-permeable head cover, each of which presents a uniformly cushionedlubric plastic pressing surface as the garment contacting portionthereof, said head cover comprising an inner non-stretchable steamdiffusing layer, an intermediate resilient fibrous layer, a pressingsurface layer and means for securing said head cover to a press head andsaid buck cover comprising an inner non-stretchable layer, anintermediate resilient fibrous layer, a pressing surface layer and meansfor securing said buck cover to a press buck.

8. The press cover assembly of claim 7 in which said pressing surfacesare each provided with a steam-permeable coating ofpolytetrafluoroethylene.

9. A press cover assembly comprising a steam-permeable buck cover and asteam-permeable head cover, each of which presents a uniformly cushionedlubric plastic pressing surface as the garment contacting portionthereof, said head cover comprising an inner rigid steam diffusingplate, an intermediate resilient fibrous layer, a pressing surface layerand means for securing said head cover to a press head and said buckcover comprising an inner non-stretchable fabric layer, an intermediateresilient fibrous layer, a pressing surface layer and means for securingsaid buck cover to a press buck.

l0. The press cover assembly of claim 9 in which each of saidintermediate and pressing surface layers are integral and theintermediate layer is a flannel nap drawn from said pressing surfacelayer, said nap layer being substantially thicker than said pressingsurface layer.

11. The press cover assembly of claim 9 in which a layer of asbestoscloth is disposed between said inner rigid plate and the adjacentintermediate layer.

12. The press cover assembly of claim 9 in which said pressing surfacesare each provided with a steam-permeable coating ofpolytetrauoroethylene.

13. A press cover assembly comprising a steam-premeable buck cover and asteam-permeable head cover, each of which presents a uniformly cushionedlubric plastic pressing surface as the garment contacting portionthereof, each of said pressing surfaces comprising a knit fabric oflaments from which a cushion layer of napped flannel is drawn, each ofsaid pressing surfaces, being provided with a garment contactingsteam-permeable coating of polytetrauoroethylene.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,539,714 1/1951 Young et a1.38-66 2,814,135 1l/1957 Freeman 38-66 2,835,056 5/1958 Landers et al.38-66 2,877,577 3/1959 Jacobson 38-97 X 3,257,746 6/ 1966 Cohen 38*97PATRICK D. LAWSON, Primary Examine-r.

1. A HEAT AND STEAM-RESISTANT, STEAM-PERMEABLE PRESS COVER FOR APRESSING MEMBER OF A STEAM PRESS, COMPRISING A NON-STRETCHABLE LAYERADAPTED TO LIE ADJACENT A PRESSING MEMBER, A PRESSING SURFACE LAYERHAVING A STEAMPERMEABLE COATING OF POLYTETRAFLUOROETHYLENE, A RESILIENTLOCALLY COMPRESSIBLE FIBROUS INTERMEDIATE LAYER LYING BETWEEN SAIDNON-STRETCHABLE LAYER AND SAID PRESSING SURFACE LAYER, MEANSPERIPHERALLY SECURING SAID LAYER TOGETHER AND TO EACH OTHER AND MEANSCONNECTED TO SAID PRESS COVER FOR ATTACHING SAID PRESS COVER TO APRESSING MEMBER.